The Pelicans' situation has been unstable ever since the franchise relocated from Charlotte in 2002, and especially since Katrina. This excruciating state of limbo unfortunately defines the Pelicans. It's difficult to say where they belong.

You get the sense Ralph Sampson, if he had been designed by NASA engineers rather than a cruel god, still would have ended up as one of the great Yeah, But guys of his generation: an immensely gifted, lightly snakebitten antecedent to Vince Carter and Chris Webber.

Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce sees the big picture with Trae Young, John Collins and the rest of Atlanta's young core

"The big picture is all I think about," Pierce said.

It all starts with the "special connection" between Trae Young and John Collins.

"You got a point guard who's really good at pick-and-roll and is a crafty and creative passer," Pierce said. "You got another guy who's dynamic in pick-and-roll because of his ability to get behind the defense to finish basically on good and bad passes and can absorb contact while in the air. Great passer, great roller. Great creator, great finisher. It's a naturally borne dynamic to have in those two guys."

The extra element is the shooting around that duo. The Hawks know that Kevin Huerter can space the floor, and they expect draftees De'Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish to do the same. And as deadly as the Young-Collins pick-and-roll can be, their wings can create, too.

Pierce was hired largely because of his player-development background. At Young's pre-draft workout last June, he was on the floor in practice gear, picking up the point guard full-court. After shootarounds, Pierce sticks around to do individual skill work, just like he did as an assistant coach. Coaching, according to Pierce, is a combination of teaching and managing. He has a degree in business management, and it comes in handy when delegating responsibility, planning practices and facilitating team bonding.

When Pierce looks at his roster, he sees options. He doesn't know if he'll actually use the Young-Huerter-Hunter-Reddish-Collins lineup this season; what's significant is that it is a possibility.

Every time Atlanta adds a player, Pierce asks himself what that player's ceiling is. Young became the Hawks' primary ballhandler immediately, and they will challenge him to grow as an off-the-ball threat. Hunter can do a bit of everything and could become a multipositional menace, but he's not going to wow crowds with ballhandling wizardry.

"De'Andre will never be the flashy player that Trae Young is," Pierce said. "Their skill sets are different. That doesn't mean he's less of a player or less of an impact than Trae. They're just going to do it differently."

The outline of a winner is visible in Atlanta. To borrow a phrase from Pierce's former employer, though, trusting the process is easier in theory than in practice. As much as Pierce preaches consistency, good practice habits and gradual improvement, losses still test a team's resolve -- and the Hawks had 53 of them last season. After a 144-112 beatdown to Milwaukee in January, Pierce kept his locker-room speech short: he wouldn't overreact, and neither should they. They watched the film on Saturday, and on Sunday beat Miami by 24 points.

After the victory, Pierce told his players he wouldn't overreact, and neither should they. There would be film to watch the next day.

Atlanta's future is looking even more promising after GM Travis Schlenk spent another draft night wheeling and dealing

Once again, it took some wheeling and dealing, but the Atlanta Hawks got the guys they wanted...they moved up to No. 4 at Thursday's NBA Draft to select De'Andre Hunter, then used the No. 10 pick -- the one they got in the Doncic trade -- to select Cam Reddish.

Last year, there was lots of chatter about general manager Travis Schlenk drafting his own version of the Splash Brothers: Trae Young and Kevin Huerter. The Warriors' influence on the league, however, is about more than just launching deep 3-pointers. It is about length, switching on defense and putting playmakers all over the court. The Hawks are only getting more Warriors-like, with a pair of big wings who should fit right in.

It is not hard to figure out why the Hawks wanted Hunter so badly. He might be the best defender in the class, and they needed a 3-and-D guy. He is the rare rookie who should be able to hold their lineups together right away, and they have enough playmaking that they can afford to bring him along slowly as a creator. In a draft where there was nothing close to a consensus fourth-best player, the No. 4 spot turned into a potentially perfect marriage of player and team.

Reddish is less of a sure thing. At his best, his smooth, effortless game makes him look like a future star -- his shot is pretty, his dribble moves are polished and his upside is undeniable. In Atlanta, Reddish will have the sort of spacing he never had at Duke. In Reddish, the Hawks' player development staff has its most exciting project yet: a talented, versatile forward who has all sorts of room to grow in their system. If he improves as a finisher and becomes more disciplined on defense, watch out.

Next to Young, Huerter and emerging big man John Collins, Atlanta doesn't just have arguably the most League Pass-friendly young core in the league, it has five players under 22 years old who fit together. Do not expect coach Lloyd Pierce to make this unit his starting lineup, but do not be surprised if he throws them all out there at some point.

"I think they have a great young nucleus," Hunter said. "They have great coaching. Trae Young is a great player. Kevin Huerter. John Collins. Those are all great young players. I feel like I can come in, provide a defensive spark, score a little bit on the offensive end and do the things needed to win."

Now that Hunter and Reddish are aboard, the picture Schlenk is painting is about to get much clearer.

Trae Young will always be battling a shoddy defensive resume. He doesn't have the physical profile of a replacement-level stopper. He's 6'2" with a 6'3" wingspan. Opponents moved him around almost at will last season. This issue isn't necessarily going away. Rookies are seldom defensive aces, but he cannot make himself longer or stronger. He'll need to become a next-level read-and-reactor to have a non-negative influence.

That does little, if anything, to derail what looks like an All-Star arc. Young came alive after a freezing-cold start to last season, eventually emerging as one of the most dangerous shot creators and makers. Through 23 appearances after the All-Star break, he averaged 24.7 points and 9.2 assists while slashing 44.2/34.8/87.8. His three-point shooting oozes disappointment at first glance, but he actually canned 35.9 percent of his triples for more than half the season.

Close to average efficiency from beyond the arc is a big deal when looking at the types of shots he trafficked in. He placed ninth in pull-up three-point attempts per game, and just 43 percent of his made triples came off assists.

Finishing plays against NBA size and length hasn't been an issue. He doesn't need too much room to get off his jumper, and while his success around the rim cooled later in the season, he's been comfortable making plays in the lane. He ranked 16th in free-throw-attempt rate among all guards and shot 49.3 percent on floaters for the year.

This says nothing of his vision. He throws all sorts of ridiculous passes. Some risks blow up in his face, but his control for someone with his creative license and usage belies his age. Don't be surprised if he has the Atlanta Hawks near the top 10 of offensive efficiency as early as next season.

John Collins is the same human trampoline he's always been, but with a more extensive offensive armory.

Atlanta asked him to do more with the ball last season, and he mostly delivered. He isn't yet a face-up nuisance, and he might never get there, but he looks more sure of himself when taking dribbles from the perimeter and dropping passes in motion.

Teams officially have to respect Collins' outside shot. He's not swishing super-deep missiles, but he converted 49 percent of his threes from the corners last season and isn't shy about letting them rip from above the break.

Collins will have to shore up his defense to creep past fringe All-Star territory. The Hawks' all-in play for De'Andre Hunter on draft night, coupled with Dewayne Dedmon's departure, suggests he'll have to soak up significant time at the 5.

Kevin Huerter's case is similar to Shamet's in some ways. Both are renowned for their shooting, and both are capable of so much more. The difference is Huerter will have more leeway to broaden his offensive horizons.

Atlanta started the process last season. Nearly one-quarter of Huerter's possessions came as the pick-and-roll ball-handler. He wasn't particularly effective in these situations but appeared more under control over time and got in the habit of flinging slick passes on the move to orbiting shooters.

Evan Turner is slated as the Hawks' backup point guard, so Huerter will have no trouble sponging up reps as a secondary creator. If he gets more comfortable with tossing inside passes against NBA length, he'll have the offensive peak of a bona fide playmaking wing.

gh123 wrote:Doncic will never stop haunting Atlanta fans. He's also about to be in top20 in the RealGM poll.

If you say so, chief...

The 5 NBA Teams Best Set for the Future

Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks promise to be one of the league's most exciting League Pass watches in 2019-20, thanks to a group of youngsters loaded with skill and athleticism at every position.

Trae Young headlines the group after surging throughout the second half of his rookie season and posting 24.7 points, 9.2 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game on 44.2 percent shooting from the field and 34.8 percent from three over his final 23 outings. Young's stroke from long distance could make him one of the more dangerous offensive weapons since Stephen Curry, and he's not alone.

In the frontcourt, John Collins continues his own ascendance. During just his second season, he put up 19.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game while slashing 56.0/34.8/76.3.

The 19th pick of the 2018 draft, Kevin Huerter provides size (6'7") and shooting, and he can fill either the shooting guard or small forward position. After converting 38.5 percent of his three-point attempts on nearly five shots per game as a rookie, Huerter may quickly become one of the game's deadliest perimeter scorers.

Under head coach Lloyd Pierce, the young Hawks will continue to fly in 2019-20 with two additional lottery picks. They took perimeter lockdown defender De'Andre Hunter at No. 4 overall and Duke prospect Cam Reddish at No. 10. Reddish may have been one of the NBA's most inefficient lottery picks, though Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman openly wondered whether Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett joining him on the Blue Devils hindered his development.

But the Hawks' young group is far from assembled. In addition to possessing each of their own first-round picks, the Hawks control the rights to the Brooklyn Nets' 2020 first-rounder (lottery-protected) and the Oklahoma City Thunder's 2022 first-rounder (lottery-protected), as well as several additional second-round selections.

The Hawks have the opportunity to put together one of the NBA's best and most exciting young cores. If nothing else, they should be one of the most fun to watch.

gh123 wrote:Doncic will never stop haunting Atlanta fans. He's also about to be in top20 in the RealGM poll.

If you say so, chief...

The 5 NBA Teams Best Set for the Future

Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks promise to be one of the league's most exciting League Pass watches in 2019-20, thanks to a group of youngsters loaded with skill and athleticism at every position.

Trae Young headlines the group after surging throughout the second half of his rookie season and posting 24.7 points, 9.2 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game on 44.2 percent shooting from the field and 34.8 percent from three over his final 23 outings. Young's stroke from long distance could make him one of the more dangerous offensive weapons since Stephen Curry, and he's not alone.

In the frontcourt, John Collins continues his own ascendance. During just his second season, he put up 19.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game while slashing 56.0/34.8/76.3.

The 19th pick of the 2018 draft, Kevin Huerter provides size (6'7") and shooting, and he can fill either the shooting guard or small forward position. After converting 38.5 percent of his three-point attempts on nearly five shots per game as a rookie, Huerter may quickly become one of the game's deadliest perimeter scorers.

Under head coach Lloyd Pierce, the young Hawks will continue to fly in 2019-20 with two additional lottery picks. They took perimeter lockdown defender De'Andre Hunter at No. 4 overall and Duke prospect Cam Reddish at No. 10. Reddish may have been one of the NBA's most inefficient lottery picks, though Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman openly wondered whether Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett joining him on the Blue Devils hindered his development.

But the Hawks' young group is far from assembled. In addition to possessing each of their own first-round picks, the Hawks control the rights to the Brooklyn Nets' 2020 first-rounder (lottery-protected) and the Oklahoma City Thunder's 2022 first-rounder (lottery-protected), as well as several additional second-round selections.

The Hawks have the opportunity to put together one of the NBA's best and most exciting young cores. If nothing else, they should be one of the most fun to watch.

gh123 wrote:Doncic will never stop haunting Atlanta fans. He's also about to be in top20 in the RealGM poll.

If you say so, chief...

The 5 NBA Teams Best Set for the Future

Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks promise to be one of the league's most exciting League Pass watches in 2019-20, thanks to a group of youngsters loaded with skill and athleticism at every position.

Trae Young headlines the group after surging throughout the second half of his rookie season and posting 24.7 points, 9.2 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game on 44.2 percent shooting from the field and 34.8 percent from three over his final 23 outings. Young's stroke from long distance could make him one of the more dangerous offensive weapons since Stephen Curry, and he's not alone.

In the frontcourt, John Collins continues his own ascendance. During just his second season, he put up 19.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game while slashing 56.0/34.8/76.3.

The 19th pick of the 2018 draft, Kevin Huerter provides size (6'7") and shooting, and he can fill either the shooting guard or small forward position. After converting 38.5 percent of his three-point attempts on nearly five shots per game as a rookie, Huerter may quickly become one of the game's deadliest perimeter scorers.

Under head coach Lloyd Pierce, the young Hawks will continue to fly in 2019-20 with two additional lottery picks. They took perimeter lockdown defender De'Andre Hunter at No. 4 overall and Duke prospect Cam Reddish at No. 10. Reddish may have been one of the NBA's most inefficient lottery picks, though Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman openly wondered whether Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett joining him on the Blue Devils hindered his development.

But the Hawks' young group is far from assembled. In addition to possessing each of their own first-round picks, the Hawks control the rights to the Brooklyn Nets' 2020 first-rounder (lottery-protected) and the Oklahoma City Thunder's 2022 first-rounder (lottery-protected), as well as several additional second-round selections.

The Hawks have the opportunity to put together one of the NBA's best and most exciting young cores. If nothing else, they should be one of the most fun to watch.

Cool numbers, too bad only 2 months, was pathetic the rest of the season.

Trae had a rough shooting percentage from 3 in the month of NOVEMBER - 19% - that's it. 33% and above the other months.The narrative that he was doing it over ONLY the last 2 months is ludacris and played out

gh123 wrote:Cool numbers, too bad only 2 months, was pathetic the rest of the season.

Speaking of pathetic...

We're all happy with Trae. It's too bad some of you Mavs fans aren't equally content with Luka.

Nah, we are very content. Ofc our FO had to go and screw us over for the rest of Luka's rookie contract with the Kp trade, but that has nothing to do with Doncic. A good portion of Atlanta fans were raging hard on those Luka vs. Trae threads, so I'm gonan have my fun for another season.

gh123 wrote:Cool numbers, too bad only 2 months, was pathetic the rest of the season.

Speaking of pathetic...

We're all happy with Trae. It's too bad some of you Mavs fans aren't equally content with Luka.

Nah, we are very content. Ofc our FO had to go and screw us over for the rest of Luka's rookie contract with the Kp trade, but that has nothing to do with Doncic. A good portion of Atlanta fans were raging hard on those Luka vs. Trae threads, so I'm gonan have my fun for another season.

Whatever helps you sleep at night. I'll at least give you credit for acknowledging that the Hawks are in a better position moving forward. Shoutout to Doncic for shooting .390/.225/.651 and leading his team to a 1-12 record in March. I've never seen anyone tank to improve another team's pick, but the mad lad did it.